On 29 December 2023, South Africa instituted proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging violations by Israel of its obligations under the Genocide Convention concerning Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
South Africa’s application included a request for the indication of provisional measures to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention” and “to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention not to engage in genocide, and to prevent and to punish genocide”.
This request for the indication of provisional measures will be heard by the ICJ on Thursday, 11th January, and Friday, 12th January this week and decided within weeks, whereas the full Proceedings may take years to consider.
Calling on our political leaders to fully support the South African application is urgent and important. The PSNA has a template letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. You might also want to follow our letter-writing guide and copy to Winston Peters as the Foreign Minister and your own MP.
You can watch the ICJ hearings this week. The ICJ will hold public hearings at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands) as follows: South Africa will present oral arguments on Thursday, 11 January, from 10am to 12 noon (10pm to midnight NZDT), and Israel will present oral arguments on Friday, 12 January 10am to 12 noon (10pm to midnight NZDT) – the hearings will be live-streamed and available on demand on UN Web TV, and the ICJ site (thanks to Peace Movement Aotearoa for the access information).
Justice for Palestine 